
Basic Czech Foods Reference Guide
Mystified by menus? Stumped in the store? These translations and explanations will probably help
Often, when shopping or dining out, little annoying questions pop up that are sometimes difficult to answer, especially when you don't speak Czech.
You should note that menu items are often misspelled and poorly translated into terms that border on comical. European definitions are usually the standard on menus so be prepared to see "aubergine" as opposed to "eggplant."
Here are a few answers to any questions or concerns.
DAIRY -- MLÉČNÉ VÝROBKY
butter -- máslo
cheese -- sýr
cream -- smetana
cream cheese -- tavený sýr
curds -- tvaroh
eggs -- vejce
ice cream -- zmrzlina
milk -- mléko
sour cream -- zakysaná smetana
whipping cream -- smetana ke šlehání
yogurt -- jogurt
BAKERY AND GRAINS -- PEČIVO A OBILNINY
baking powder -- kypřící prášek do pečiva
baking soda -- zažívací/jedlá soda
barley -- ječmen
bread -- chléba
flour -- mouka
flour/coarse (meal) -- hrubá mouka
flour/sifting -- hladká mouka
flour/wheat -- pšeničná mouka
hops -- chmel
grains -- cereálie
oats -- oves
pasta -- těstoviny
starch -- škrob
wheat -- pšenice
rice -- rýže
rolls -- rohliky/housky
MEAT -- MASO
Beef -- Hovězí
ground beef -- mleté hovězi
steak -- biftek
roast -- pečeně
sirloin -- svíčková
filet -- filet
Pork -- Vepřové
chop -- kotleta
rib/sparerib -- žebro/žebírko
hot dog -- párek
bacon -- slanina
loin -- bedra
short loin/roast beef -- roštěná
rump -- kýta
ham -- šunka
salami -- salám
sausage -- klobása
spare ribs -- žebírka
Chicken -- Kuře
breast -- prsíčka
leg -- kýta
thigh -- stehno
whole -- celé kuře
wings -- křídla/křidélka
FRUITS -- OVOCE
apple -- jablko
apricot -- meruňka
banana -- banán
blueberry -- borůvka
cherry -- třešně
cranberry -- brusinka
coconut -- kokosový ořech
lemon -- citrón
lime -- limeta
melon -- meloun
orange -- pomeranč
peach -- broskev
pear -- hruška
plum -- švestka
raspberry -- malina
strawberry -- jahoda
tangerine -- mandarinka
pineapple -- ananas
watermelon -- vodní meloun
VEGETABLES -- ZELENINA
beet -- červená řepa
bell pepper -- paprika
broccoli -- brokolice
cabbage -- zelí
carrot -- mrkev
cauliflower -- květák
celery -- celer
corn/maize -- kukuřice
cucumber -- okurka
lentils -- čočka
lettuce -- salát
mushroom -- houba
onion -- cibule
peas -- hrách
potato -- brambor
radish -- ředkvička
squash -- dýně
string/runner beans -- fazolový lusk
tomato -- rajče
zucchini/courgette -- cukina
SPICES -- KOŘENÍ
basil -- bazalka
cinnamon -- skořice
coriander -- koriandr
cumin -- kmín
curry -- karí
dill -- kopr
ginger -- zázvor
nutmeg -- muškát
marjoram -- majoránka
paprika -- paprika
pepper (black) -- pepř
peppermint -- máta peprná
poppyseed -- mák
salt -- sůl
tarragon -- estragon
thyme -- tymián
SWEETS -- SLADKOSTI
cake -- dort
candy -- bonbón
chocolate -- čokoláda
cookies/biscuits -- sušenka
donut -- kobliha
honey -- med
ice cream -- zmrzlina
jam -- džem
marmalade -- marmeláda
sugar -- cukr
NOTES
Carrots
Sometimes referred to in the English/Czech slang form, “karotky” in dishes on restaurant menus.
Celery
Celery is used differently than maybe you're used to. Czech celer is the large, white bulbous root of the stalk, and is used to flavor soups, sauces or stews. If you're used to using the celery stalks, they can be found, but aren't as common and can be rather expensive.
Corn/Maize
Unlike the potato, corn hasn't been a traditional Czech staple. In the past it was more commonly grown as food for animals than for people, but its production for human consumption has nearly quadrupled within the last 12 years. Still, it may take some searching around to find corn meal, chips, bread and other corn-based foods. However, popcorn (pražená kukuřice) and corn flakes (kukuřičné vločky) are two corn foods found in abundance.
Ground Meat
If you're looking for hamburger (ground beef) look carefully at the packaging. Oftentimes you'll find what's called mleté maso (ground meat), a mixture of beef and pork -- at best -- not pure beef. This mixture isn't often found in the USA because it's a health risk, but you’ll find it here more often than you'll find pure ground beef (mleté hovězi), or ground pork (mleté vepřové).
Hot Dogs
Wienies or wieners, frankfurters, franks, hot dogs or red-hots; whatever you call them, and wherever you're from, we've got more of them here. All beef? Not gonna happen. What will happen, though, is you standing in a supermarket scratching your head while you stare at 100 different varieties of párek, none of which will make you feel like you’ve gotten even close to a traditional American baseball-park frank.
At least two of the names on the list above should serve as a reminder that Central Europe is the part of the world that claims to have the richest sausage heritage. Terms like, jemný párky (soft franks), lahůdkové párky (select franks) or Vídeňské párky (Viennese franks) will only serve to confuse you. Just go by looks and hope for the best. As for buns, use the rohlíky!
Lettuce
Salát is both lettuce and a salad. You'll have to rely on the context to figure out whether you'll get a head of lettuce, or the mixture of vegetables with lettuce that we know as a salad. Confused yet?
Milk
Back in the days of Communism, it was hard to find fresh milk in the city. Most of the milk available was ultra-heat treated to extend its shelf-life. This is still the most common variety of milk available today, but it can also be purchased in several other variations:
acidophilus milk -- acidofilní mléko
evaporated milk -- zahuštěné mléko
fresh milk -- čerstvé mléko
fortified milk -- bílkovinami/obohacené mléko
boxed/imperishable milk -- trvanlivé mléko
malted milk -- sladové mléko
pasteurized milk -- pasterizovaný mléko
skim milk -- odtučněný mléko
soy milk -- sójové mléko
whole milk -- plnotučné mléko
Mushrooms
Most often, especially when dining out, you'll see champignon (žampiony) rather than mushrooms (houby) listed by name on restaurant menus. There are dozens of others that Czechs will pick and eat fresh from the field or forest, but you won't find these in a restaurant.
Pepper
The Czech word for bell pepper is paprika. In English, of course, this is a common spice name. Czechs don't see the difference between the fresh veg and the dried spice and use it interchangeably. You will find it referred to on the packaging of everything from cheese spreads to potato chips.
Sausage
As in southern Germany, there's a wide variety of pork-based goods, each with a different name. There's far more to it than hot dogs and sausages -- and far too many to list here.
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